Conceptualizing a Case

Developmental, Sociocultural, and Ethical and Diagnostic Considerations in Counseling Children and Adolescents

Developmental, Sociocultural, and Ethical, and Diagnostic Considerations in Counseling Children and Adolescents

This paper presents a background and informational sketch of a hypothetical 15-year old named Alexandria. The ethical and legal issues that may impact this case is discussed as well as steps that could be taken in order how to ensure that ethical standards will be applied and considered appropriately in this child’s treatment plan and preliminary DSM-5 diagnosis. Further, the results of Alexandria’s Ecomap assessment will demonstrate how her family, community, cultural, and societal contexts contribute to her barriers and her supports.

Background Sketch for Case: Alexandria Martinez

Identification of the Problem

Alexandria Martinez is a 15-year-old sophomore at Farmington High School. Her parents divorced and have joint custody of Alexandria and her sister, but she only sees her mother every third weekend each month. She was referred to counseling because her chemistry teacher has noticed that her grades were declining, and her attitude has been extremely negative which has caused her to be involved in several altercations with other students. After speaking to the father, it was also reported that Alexandria has been having trouble at home. She has missed her curfew by 30 mins or more on several occasions and she has become moody, disrespectful and her father noticed that she is not sleeping through the night.

Individual and Background Information.

Academic:

School records show that Alexandria’s grades have been slipping over the last few months. Alexandria was taking many AP courses and honor classes which placed her at the top of her class. Along with her grades dropping it has been recorded that the once high honored student has been skipping classes. Previously, her grades and participation were above average and caused no reason for concern. There has been nothing reported that indicates any type of learning disability.

Family and Culture:

Alexandria’s family is of Cuban, Irish and African American decent. Her father is Irish, and her mother is Cuban and African American. She is raised in a single parent home in which she resides with her father and younger sister whom is 11. Alexandria’s parents recently divorced, which has left the girls torn in between homes and cities after her parents deciding on joint custody. Her father is a cardiologist, has a private practice that is partnered with the local hospital. Alexandria’s father is constantly away on business trips, in which the girls are left in the care of their maternal grandmother. According to the grandmother the family has always been a close family until the divorce, Alexandria became distant and disrespectful to her father.

The Martinez family practices many values of the American culture even though her parents are from different ethnicities. Being born and raised in the United States the Martinez’s have adapted to the American life. Alexandria’s maternal grandmother practice values from her Cuban culture and she tries to instill some of her culture in her granddaughters such as the practicing of the Catholic faith. Alexandria and her sister attend church every Sunday with their grandmother.

Physical:

During the initial intake report, there were notes from her most recent pediatrician visit. There are no health issues reported about the client and she is in good health.

Social:

Alexandria has always been well liked by her peers. Everyone knows her to be very popular in school and she is very known in her community. She is a captain on her school’s cheerleading squad, runs track and she is on the debate team. When she is not engaging in her after school activities, she volunteers at a soup kitchen twice a week and she reads to children at the local library downtown in her town, on Saturday mornings. Alexandria enjoys helping others and being active in her community. The staff and her family have reported that she has always been a social butterfly except for recently, she’s been distant and moody. The people closest to her are starting to worry about her because she has always been able to handle being in different situations and being under pressure. It was reported that Alexandria’s parents separated for a short period of time a few years ago and she handled it well, until the divorce.

Developmental Analysis***

Briefly apply concepts from Piaget’s theory, Selman, Erikson, and what is known about development of the brain and neurological system and physical maturation to your case.

Cultural Analysis***

Briefly highlight the cultural considerations that might be important for understanding and counseling your case. When counseling adolescents from diverse cultures one must keep in mind the cultural considerations that would be important for understanding and counseling sessions. It is essential for counselors to understand a diverse array of cultures and their worldviews before helping and assisting people from other cultures.

Ecomap Assessment of Stressors and Supports

Alexandria has a positive relationship with her sister because she doesn’t look at her differently even though she is having a hard time handling the separation of their parents. Her sister is always there to comfort her. She has a positive relationship with her grandmother because she supports her and tries to offer words of encouragement. Even though she has a positive relationship with counseling and her cheerleading squad it’s also tenuous because she is uncertain if she can rely on the people in these groups. Alexandria has a tenuous and stressful relationship with her parents because she doesn’t know if she can rely on them to still act normal and be there for her while living separate and busy lives. Getting adjusted to the divorce is stressful because Alexandria has grown up with both her parents in the home where as now, she must go back and forth between homes. Academics and cheerleading are stressful because Alexandria is allowing her family issues to interfere with her grades and her ability to be a captain. The divorce has caused Alexandria to become distant, disrespectful and moody which has caused altercations with other students which has led to her behavior being stressful.

Legal and Ethical Issues Plan***

Articulate a brief legal and ethical issues plan that presents the steps you will take to establish an ethical counseling relationship with your child or adolescent client. Identify potential ethical and legal issues that could arise with this client, and describe how you would handle each of these, referencing specific laws and ethical codes.

Treatment Plan for Case***

Write a brief paragraph here that provides a transition from the background information about the client to your treatment plan for the case. Use guidelines in Counseling Children, pages 112–113.

Problem Identification***

Write a brief description here, identifying the problem.

Problem Definition***

Write a brief description here, defining the problem; use the DSM-5 for symptom and problem terminology.

Goal Development***

Write a brief description here, outlining the goal of counseling.

Measurable Outcomes***

Write a brief description here of outcomes that can be measured.

Proposed Interventions***

Write a brief counseling plan here.

Preliminary DSM-5 Diagnosis***

State your preliminary diagnosis here, stating how your client meets the criteria for a particular diagnosis, and including specifiers for the disorder, if applicable. You may diagnose more than one disorder.

References

(Include at least five sources that you used in your assignment. You may include your textbook. The reference below provides an example citation for an article.)

Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, volume#(issue#), xx–xx.

2